The Angels, Twins, Rangers, Rays and Blue Jays have shown some interest in Ramirez, but Minnesota just added Jim Thome and is no longer interested. The Angels, Rangers and Rays are pursuing him most aggressively. Rojas hears that Manny wants to prove himself after a disappointing season; money, it seems, is not the slugger's primary concern.

A person close to Guerrero told Rojas that the Orioles have the inside track on signing him, but the Angels are another possibility.

One is starting the year in the minors for sure (Matt Angle), one is coming off a horrific disaster of a season (Nolan Reimold) and one can’t find any consistency in the rare time that he’s healthy enough to play (Felix Pie).

That leaves two reliable outfielders in Adam Jones and Nick Markakis. Luke Scott is a decent left fielder, if the need arises (and considering the issues of Reimold and Pie, it probably will).

With all that in mind, should it really be a surprise that the O’s are interested in Vlad?

Scott is an average left fielder, and I’m not sure how closely you’ve followed the Os, Scott was the primary DH last season.

This would be a great move, left field is such a huge question mark, and you forget we don’t have anyone to take the ABs that Wigginton was getting as a utility player last year. This pushes Pie and Reimold into that role, that is, of course, if we get Vlad.

This is exactly what I’ve been saying for weeks. The reason for the O’s to sign Vlad is to provide the flexibility in personnel that would allow them to put a package together for a genuinely reliable starting pitcher, instead of having to settle for the dregs left in the free agent market.

I’ve said the exact same thing on Baltimore Sun. Scott puts up his numbers in brief spurts. He’s not the hitter Vlad is. Trade Scott for a starter or reliever. MAKE THIS MOVE. Come on Andy, buy the hitters, remember?

“Rojas hears that Manny wants to prove himself after a disappointing season; money, it seems, is not the slugger’s primary concern.”

Translation: Manny is adjusting to the market, knows he has limited leverage and will play for the Phillies for 450K. After hitting 45 HR’s and batting .340, best believe money will be his primary concern once again.

Also says the Angels, Rangers, and Rays are pursuing Manny most aggressively. Well Angels VP of communications Tim Mead had this to say about Manny in a live chat last night. “As far as Manny, there were some false rumors that started Sunday evening about us and a one-year contract for Manny. That’s not going to happen.” Manny will not be an Angel.

He was very illusive in response to every other question besides the Manny one. I think its safe to say the organization does not want him. If you want to read the chat, go to angelswin dot come and look under the blog section.

I really hope the Jays sign Manny. Would be a cheap, fun way to improve the team in a season not likely to go greatly. After Manny’s comments about wanting to play in Toronto, if he signs a cheap deal with the Rays and kicks the Blue Jays butts all year, it could look pretty bad on the front office.

The real X-factor if the Jays sign Manny is Edwin Encarnacion. If he shows up for spring training healthy and finally has the breakout year with the bat that many have believed he’s capable of (the power potential alone is reason enough for the jays to bring him back) then how do the AB’s get spread around? I think it’s very likely that EE is an above average defensive 1b, so if he catches fire and Manny is in the DH spot, where to for Lind? Sure, Lind can spell either of Manny or EE against RHP, but if Manny and EE aren’t struggling, then Lind could become a very expensive backup DH.

Well, given the upside is he has a good year and with Murph’s guidance, like so many last year, manages to get type B and we get a draft pick? Absolutely. Manny might win us some insignificant games that lead us no closer to a pennant. And based on this years’ market, it sounds as though Manny would accept arbitration, plugging up his position for our developing players.

I hope Jays fans are fed up with publicity moves like Thomas and Gaston intended to “bring out more fans” (ie. make more money) and want moves intended to make a team that will win the World Series.

Why would it be, though? He knows he’s not going to get much, so he’s clearly focused on rebuilding his value. I mean, if a .870 OPS is the worst he’s been…….I’m kind of shocked at the lack of interest. His power may have slipped, but just his OBP alone brings more value than what he’s likely to sign for. Clubhouse cancer? Probably, but that’s sometimes blown out of proportion.

Sins committed here by RedSoxDynasty:
1. Ungratefulness (Manny was biggest reason Redsox “broke the curse” and won 2 WS)
2. Judgementalness (No one but God can judge the sincerity of another persons motives)

Manny is getting so much money from the Redsox for the next 16 years, what difference does it make to him if he makes 100,000 this year or 2 million?

This says a alot about you as a person that you stick up for a man who quit on his team, cheated on the game, and attacked an elderly man by shoving him to the floor! You wouldnt happen to be a lonely, overweight, unemployed man living in his moms basement too would you?

I will be so fu(k!ng pissed if the damn Orioles sign Vlad. The Rays lost two free agent relievers of interest to the Blue Jays and another one to the Red Sox… maybe more that I don’t know of. The point is that if Vlad goes to Bal and Manny signs somewhere other than Tampa Bay, then this FO will be dead to me. Do they want to spend any money at all? Before the offseason, Stu Sternberg said that he expected to spend about $50 mil on payroll this season and right now, the Rays have a 2011 player payroll of less than $40 mil. Where’s the extra $10 mil coming from if not a closer (John Rauch) or DH (Vlad / Manny)??? I know Friedman wants to trade for a reliever and he said that is his primary focus right now, but the Rays have relievers. They do NOT have a DH. Oh and you gotta score runs in order to use your closer(s).

I know… don’t mean anything against the O’s and their fans. Buuuuuuuut, the Rays fans do not lack interest in their team. The Tampa Bay area has one of the highest unemployment rates of ANY baseball town, over 11%, and families can’t afford to go to pay 20 bucks for parking, four tickets, and $80 for food / drinks. So don’t play that game, bud. It pisses me off that my team can’t spend any money but it’s understandable why the fans don’t show. Again, there’s no lack of interest. The bay area had many more viewers than NYC any time the Rays played the Yankees, here in FL or there in NY.

Yea, I wasn’t saying there wasn’t extenuating circumstances. The Rays are without question the team I respect the most in the division, and I wish they were in a different division so I could root for them.

Okay, I really can’t seem to reply worth a crap lol, but here: We would welcome you to the Rays fan club 😉 But yea this division is tough tough tough. The O’s and the Jays are improving tremendously. I wish the Rays were in a different division too.

LOL. You have to get yourself in the mindset that the front office will never be backing the Rays, they don’t have the budget and they don’t have the fan support. Rays will only build their team through the farm. So they’ll be good every 10 years pretty. So stop crying and get used to it.

Woops, I posted this below, but here: We would welcome you to the Rays fan club 😉 But yea this division is tough tough tough. The O’s and the Jays are improving tremendously. I wish the Rays were in a different division too.

I hope the Orioles sign Vlad and put Scott in LF. Have Pie and Reimold battle for the backup job. Sign Beimel for the bullpen and bring Millwood back for 1 yr 1.5 million dollars. Put Millwood in the three hole though.

I’m sure the Jays would bring Manny in if the price were right…but at this point they figure EE’s production wouldn’t be too far off what Manny would be able to do over the course of the season…and EE can play 1bag to spell Lind on off days or should he not work out at 1B.

As much as I would love to watch Manny play everyday it just doesn’t make sense for the Jays at this point in time. That being said if they’re suprise contenders 2/3 months into the season u can always go get a Manny/Vlad type if needed.

alot of variables at play in the 2011 season, there place in the hierarchy of the AL is not easily quantifiable at the moment…they could win 88 and they could win 72. im hoping its the former.
GO JAYS!

I admittedly did not read most of the comments (most people won’t read this one) but it seems as though Vlad to the Angels and Manny to the Rays would be the most likely based on “disposable income” the Angels have and Manny being closer to “second/third home” in Florida. Baltimore is a wild card for either as they have a habit of throwing WAY too much money for every FA signing they have done in the past two decades. Rangers get Vlad if no one is interested because they will have accomplished getting him for less $$$ than resigning him outright. Boras could probably convince the Miami Heat to sign him so anything is possible (except a return to the Red Sox).

These veterans should launch a massive lawsuit against MLB owners who discriminate aganst them. They produce a whole lot better than the young guys, but the young guys get the money because of potential.

Funny thing, Vlad is actually not that slow. He wasnt a real good baserunner last year but Ron Washington encouraged aggresiveness b/c guys like Hamilton, Andrus, Cruz were fast. Anyway Vlad would get thrown out on the bases some being too aggresive but he wasnt terribly slow by any means

Yea I misread that as threat on the bases, but I still think I deserve credit for the Mo Vaughn joke.

I still don’t understand how people are bashing a guy who had a .345 OBP 300 BA and 29 HRs last year, to go along with 27 doubles. Its pretty mind boggling actually. The dudes like 36, of course he isn’t going to be as productive as when he was younger, but thats a pretty poor test of a player. He is a pure DH at this point, and he sucked in the playoffs, but anyone who wouldn’t want him on their team I don’t want as my GM.